The Report of the Preliminary Investigation of the Quality of Education, University of Florida.

The need for a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of education at the University of Florida, Gainesville, was investigated by the Student Government Department of Education during fall quarter 1979 and winter quarter 1980. Twelve areas were examined: The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, evaluations by professional associations, student evaluations, other evaluation criteria, institutional goals, faculty, students, teaching methods, curriculum, academic advisement, policy-making, and learning atmosphere. Eighty-eight percent of the students polled believed that there is a need for a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of education at the university, and 68 percent of the faculty polled believed that there is such a need. Observations were targeted on the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, education, journalism and communications, and business administration. Original survey objectives were to obtain responses from seven campus groups regarding the need for an evaluation: the student senate, the faculty senate, the administration, college councils, area governments, relevant student organizations, and fraternities and sororities. Due to various problems, only the student and faculty polls were conducted. Among the specific areas that were investigated were the following: the type of evaluation the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools would make at the Unviersity of Florida; the role of professional associations in evaluating programs at the University; the use made of student evaluations of faculty and different types of student evaluations; goals of the university in terms of research, teaching, and service; ratings of the importance of specific teacher qualifications/skills; the extent of sexual harassment of students by faculty; and views on the student attrition. Specific comments of respondents are included. (SW)